Self-propelled excavating machine



Jan. 26, 1965 c, J. DAVIS ETAL 3,167,194

SELF-PROPELLED EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES J. DAVIS ROLAND N. N I SSEN INVENTORfi ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 c. J. DAVIS ETAL 3,167,194

SELF-FPROPELLED EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "-1.5"... 2 CHARLES J. DAVIS ROLAND N.NISSEN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 c. J. DAVIS ETAL 3,167,194

SELF-PROPELLED EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l- MI CHARLES J. DAVIS ROLAND N. NISSEN INVENTOR5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,167,194 SELF-PROPELLED EXCAVATING MACHINE Charles J. Davis, 22 fiolonial, Wichita, Kane, and Roland N. Nissen, Valley Center, Kans; said Nissen assignor to said Davis Filed Dec. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 246,727 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-438) This invention relates to an improved construction for self-propelled excavators or mechanical shovels.

'In self-propelled excavators of conventional construction the boom supporting body and the boom either swing together as a unit about a fixed vertical body axis, or the boom assembly swings about a fixed vertical axis at one end of the body while the body remains stationary. In either case it is impossible to position the excavator so that the bucket at the outer end of the boom can excavate a trench immediately adjacent to and alongside a building wall with the boom moving up and down in a plane parallel to the building wall.

With excavators of conventional construction it is also well nigh impossible to dig a trench or other excavation having a vertical wall which runs transverse to and immediately adjacent the ground on which the excavator is resting.

It is a primary object of this invention to obviate these disadvantages by providing an excavator which has independent vertical pivot axes for both the body and the boom'assembly, thus making it possible for the operator to first pivot the body so that the boom pivot axis is moved to a position immediately adjacent a building wall, and to thereafter swing the boom about its own vertical pivot axis to dump material removed from the trench or excavation into a nearby truck without the necessity of pivoting the boom supporting body during each bucket dumping operation.

An additional object is to provide a mechanical shovel which includes, in addition to the above mentioned construction features, a horizontal tilt axis between the body and its supporting mobile chassis, which makes it possible to level the body when its transporting chassis is located on a hillside, which in turn makes it possible to dig a trench vertically into the ground alongside a building wall, even though the ground slopes upward or downward away from the building wall.

The above and other objects will be better understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-propelled excavator embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, in perspective, showing details of construction of the excavator illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top plan schematic views illustrating typical operations of which an excavator embodying the invention is capable; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view schematically illustrating the excavator performing another type of operation.

Generally, an excavator embodying the invention includes a power driven mobile ground supported chassis which includes a weight supporting frame; an intermediate frame mounted on the chassis for lateral tilting movement with respect thereto about a central fore and aft horizontal axis; a body mounted on the intermediate frame for swinging movement about an axis normal to the plane of the intermediate frame; a work performing assembly including an elongated bucket carrying boom mounted on one end of the body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the body swinging axis, and also for movement about a transverse axis normal to the body swinging axis; a power unit carried by the body; means 3,167,194 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 for transmitting power from the power unit to the mobile chassis for propelling the chassis regardless of the relative positions of the body, the body supporting intermediate frame, and the chassis frame; power unit operated means for tilting the intermediate frame about its axis; power unit operated means for swinging the body about its upright axis; and power unit operated means for moving the boom about both its axes.

Details of construction Referring particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the chassis of the excavator illustrated is designated as a whole by the numeral 11, the body supporting intermediate frame is designated as a whole by the numeral 16, the body is designated as a whole by the numeral 15, and the boom assembly is designated as a whole by the numeral 18.

The mobile chassis includes conventional endless tracks 12 which are driven independently through a transmission 14, which in turn is driven by a hydraulic motor 13 mounted on the transmission housing. The chassis frame includes fore and aft spaced parallel transverse frame members 20 and 21 which rigidly carry fore and aft aligned pivot pin bearings 22. g

. The intermediate frame 16 includestransversely spaced parallel frame members 25 and transversely disposed parallel channel cross section frame members 26 and 27, rigidly connected to the frame members 25. The transversely disposed frame members 26 and 27 are fitted with central fore and aft aligned bearings 29 which cooperate with the bearings 22 on the chassis frame, and with separate pivot pins, to mount the intermediate frame on the chassis frame for tilting movement about the axis 22. The intermediate frame carries a body pivot pin 35 which is rigidly mounted in upright position on the cross frame member 27.

In addition, the intermediate frame 16 includes a transverse arcuate channel section track 39 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the forward ends of the frame members 25, and three rollers 36 rotatably mounted on spaced brackets 37, one on frame member 26, and the other two at the respective aft ends of the frame members 25. The purpose of the track 39 and the rollers 36 will be explained in connection with the body section 15.

The elongated body 15 is generally oval shaped in plan form, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It includes spaced parallel side frame members 48, a rigid transverse cross frame member at its forward end connected to the forward ends of the frame members 48, but not shown in FIG. 2. It also includes rear channel section cross frame members 49 and 51, which are likewise rigidly secured to the aft ends of the frame members 48.

Intermediate its ends the body frame rigidly supports a heavy transverse plate 50 which has a central hole 52 for receiving the pin 35 on the intermediate frame.

Concentrically surrounding the hole 52 the body frame rigidly carries three arcuate track members 53, 54 and 55 which in eifect constitute a three-quarter circular turn table guide for thebody, since all three of these members lie in the same transverse plane. They are of channel section to receive the rollers 36 on the intermediate frame 16.

Additionally, at its forward end, the body rigidly carries a bracket 57, which in turn carries transversely spaced rollers 58 which are received in and roll on one flange of the channel in track member 39 when the body is mounted in its normal position on the pivot pin 35. The rollers 58 in the arcuate channel member 39, and the central roller 36 which rolls in the channel of track member 53 serve to stabilize the body on the intermediate frame 16 and prevent its fore and aft tilting with respect to the intermediate frame. The two rollers 36 at the opposite sides'of the intermediate frame, seated in the track members 54 and 55 on thenbody serve to stabilize the lateral tilting movement of the body with respect to the intermediate frame. Thus when the body is mounted on the intermediate frame by means of the pivot pin and the rollers 36-and 58, and the intermediate frameis mounted on the chassis frame 11 by means'rof pivot pins passing through the bearings 22 and 29 on the'intermediate frame and on thechassis vframe, the intermediate frame is capable of tilting laterally with respect to the chassis irame,'and du'ringfsuch tilting movement in either direction, the body tilts with the intermediate frame.

Also, when the three mentioned 's ub-assemblies'are assembled together, as in FIGJI, the body is capable of swinging movement aboutthe axis 35, which is normal to the plane of the intermediate frame, and normalto the tilting axis 22,

, 'into'a nearbly truck.

The power unit operated means for tilting and stabilizing the-intermediate frame with relation to the chassis is illustratedin the form of a pair of double acting hydraulicworking cylinders 52' and 33; These cylinders have one end pivotally co'nnected to-the chassisframe cross mem- I ber21, as-shOwn," and theiroppositeends are-pivotally I connected to the respective opposite ends of the inter mediate frame cross member 27.; A, conventional by; draulicvalve, not shown, is used to extend. the length of one of these cylinders while the other cylinder is j simultaneously reduced in length, and vice versa;

I As a means'of swinging the bodyabout its vertical: axis 7 35, the invention includes includes'a pair of spacedhydraulic cylinders 59, eac'l'ihavin'g an end pivotally connected to a respective, aft end of the 'intermediate frame members 25, and their opposite ends pivotally connected to f the body at transversely spaced pointsin the channel sectioncross member 51. Similarly, a suitableconventional' 15 about its pivotaxis.

hydraulic valve,not shown; is provided for extending the length of oneZ of'the-cylinders 59 other isreduced, and viceversa.

- The boom-64 has one end pivotally coniiected to a s u p porting bracket 75 at .68 the pivot pin 68-lying in-a transverse plane normal to the body 'pivot axis 35. The bracket 75 is also pivotally mounted on an upright king 'pin70 ing in a plane parallel to the body frame odanaxis 70 while thelength of the 1 transverse frame, and the boom and bucket assembly operating cylinders 65, 77 and 78.

' Operation sary to actuate the boom and bucket assembly to dig the trench, lift the material from thetrench in the bucket, and swing the'boo'm counterclockwise to dump the material This can be done while the body- 15 remains stationary. V v

V In the operation shown in FIG; 4 an excavation is being made with a; verticalwal-l sfl running transverse tothe chassisll and immediately adjacentthe forward end of '7 the chassis; In this case the'body'il5 -is swung' counterclockwisefintil the boom swingk'axis 70 isinaposition -tojpermit boomassemb1y18 toopera'te parallel-to the wall to be dug." Thereafter the :boom assembly 'can'be "actuated to dig the excavation,f to" lift material from the excavation, and to dump itintoia' nearby truck," as shown, without the necessity'of intermittently swinging the body 5 the operation illustrated in FIG. l' is being performed, but the. ground onfwhich' the chassis sets is sloping downward away from the building wall. In this {case it is, onlynece'ssaryto level the body 15 by tilting the intermediate frame 16 about its fore and 'att'pivot axis 22'. Having describedthe invention with'sutficient'clarit'y'to enable those familiar with this. art to construct and use 'it,we7claim:' v

1. An excavator comprising: I

. rigidweight supporting frame; g h anjintermediate body s pporti ng framey i f"; means pivotally mountingsaid intermediate frame on which is supported at its upperlandlower ends by the' for- I ward endof thebody. .Thus the boom is capable of swing- 1 which is parallel to the body pivot axis 35, and is also capable of being moved anddown about the-pivot pin 68, which is normal to the axis 70. A-conventional rotary hydraulic working cylinder housed in thebody housing 66 a and connected to the king pin 70 servesto swing. the

theboom18. g

The entire boom and bucket'assembly-is shown in FIG.

. 1. A bucket carrying'arm 63 .hasone end pivotally mounted 'on a transverse pivot axis 44 a; the outer endpr .the boom64. The other end otarm-163 is1 Jivotal 1y.'con-v nectedat 76 to a:conventional digging b uclret'or shovel'62.

Boom 64 is moved about its transverse axis 6 8 by means; of a doubleacting working cylinder-65, while the arm- 63 a is movedr about'its transverse pivotfaxis-44jbymeans:ofa double acting workingcylinder v7.7. Similarly bucket 62 is moved about its transverse pivot'axis 76 by means of a unit 46. The power plant 4 6 drives a hydraulic pump (not shown),'and the necessary conduitsare provided between conventional valves and the pump, and between the valves and the-individual power units on' the; excavator,

including the hydraulic motor 13 for driving'thetracks 12 the cylinders 32'and 33 for tilting the transverse frame, the. cylinders; 5 9 tor swingingthe body with relation to the I V V bracket 75 from side'to, side, thereby similarly'swinging a itsaxis;and r. 1

powerfunit operated means 'for swinging said boom double acting working cy1inder'78; The'boom assembly") is conventional and' fu'rther description of structural de- 7 tails is considered unnecessary. -V g p j l Body 15 supports an enginevhousing designated gen I erally by the numerals'42 and 43; .wh ich houses a power g s'aid chassis forlat eral tilting movement with'respect i thereto about a central fore and afthorizontal axis; abod tf a I V I means pivotally mounting the body -on said intermediate frame'forswinging'movement about'an axis nor- 7 malto the pivot-axis of the'intermediate frame; and a work performingassembly including an elongated boom mounted -on'lone end of the body for independentrswinging"movement about an axis spaced 7 from and parallel' tothe body swinging axis. 9

'2'9Thfe excavator described in claim 1, and

cooperating means on; said b odyzan don said inter fni ediate'franre for stabilizing the' body withrespect torthe frame during body swinging'fmovement'.

The'excavatorgdescribecl in; claim F1," and power 'unit' operated means for-tilting said-intermediate frame about its axis; I a v t power unit operated means 'for swingingthebody about about i'tsi'axis; V '4.' The'excafvator"describedin claim. ljand 1 rpower aetuatedzm'eansf connected to the intermediate frame and tb the chassis .frame for maintaining the intermediate frame in a selected position with respect to the chassis, and for laterally tilting the inter mediate frame withirespect to the chassis.

SJThe excavator described inqclaim Land power actuated means-connected to' the intermediate frame andtothe body fort'maintaining'the body in -a selected-- position with respect to the intermediate 7 tion' aboutfits'piyot axis;

a self-propelled"groundfsupported chassis including a v V a frame, and for-swinging.thebody ir'ieither'direm' h .3 61 The excavator described in claim 1 in which the said 9. The excavator described in claim 1 in which both ends boom is also mounted on the body for up and down moveof the body are symmetrically tapered outwardly in plan ment about a transverse axis which is normal to its swingform. ing axis. References Cited by the Examiner Z'liifiiilfifiifilififiSill? 33 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 n e n means independent of the tilting axis of the intermedi- 9 2:3; ate frame and of the body swinging axis for trans- 3 M11 er 21 1,861,194 5/32 Sloane 214135 X mitting power from the power unit to the mobile 2 121 189 6/38 214 135 chassis for propelling the chassis regardless of the 10 13 4 8/58 gg 214 138 t n rela ive positions of the body, the body SLlppOllm 2,897,986 8/59 Davis 214 138 X intermediate frame, and the chassis frame.

8. The excavator described in claim 1 in which that FOREIGN PAT NT end of the body on which the work performing assembly 224 853 9/58 A E S is mounted is symmetrically tapered outwardly in plan 15 form. HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EXCAVATOR COMPRISING: A SELF-PROPELLED GROUND SUPPORTED CHASSIS INCLUDING A RIGID WEIGHT SUPPORTING FRAME; AN INTERMEDIATE BODY SUPPORTING FRAME; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID INTERMEDIATE FRAME ON SAID CHASSIS FOR LATERAL TILTING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO ABOUT A CENTRAL FORE AND AFT HORIZONTAL AXIS; A BODY; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE BODY ON SAID INTERMEDIATE FRAME FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS NORMAL TO THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE INTERMEDIATE FRAME; AND A WORK PERFORMING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BOOM MOUNTED ON ONE END OF THE BODY FOR INDEPENDENT SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE BODY SWINGING AXIS. 